Peter Wright to referee Portsmouth away clash

Peter Wright will be the man in the middle for the Iron's away league clash against Portsmouth.

The Merseyside-based official will travel to Fratton Park for his 31st game of the season and his ninth in Sky Bet League One. 2018-19 is his first year in the EFL after being promoted to the National List of Referees last summer.

He began his referee journey in the Southport-based Craven Minor Football League before spending time in the referee academy programme run by Liverpool County FA at both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs, alongside a spell with Durham County FA whilst completing his studies at university in the north east.

His first game of the campaign was Stevenage's 3-1 away victory over Crawley Town on august 11th in which he showed just one caution. Meanwhile his latest match was Tuesday's encounter between Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers at Bloomfield Road which ended all-square at 1-1, with Wright issuing one yellow card.

Earlier in the season, Wright took charge of the Iron's goalless draw away at Burton Albion - his first involvement in a Scunthorpe game and his first-ever encounter as a referee in Sky Bet League One. On that day, he issued four cautions - Matthew Lund and Ike Ugbo carded for the Iron.

He has also made one trip to Glanford Park this season as Fourth Official to Geoff Eltringham in the Carabao Cup against Doncaster Rovers.

He is yet to take charge of a game involving Portsmouth so Saturday will be his first visit to Fratton Park.

In 2017-18, he took charge of 26 games, issuing 70 yellow cards and four red. That included 24 National League games, one FA Cup encounter (Gainsborough Trintiy 0-6 Slough) and a National League play-off game involving Tranmere Rovers and Ebbsfleet United.

So far in this campaign, he has officiated in 30 encounters, showing 88 yellows and six reds.

On Saturday, Wright will be assisted by Daniel Cook and Bhupinder Gill, while Adrian Waters has been appointed as the fourth official.